Before 1898 Russian mines were designated by the name of their designer and the model year. For example: Gertz model 1876.

Between 1898 and 1939 standard shipboard mines were designated by their model year only. For example: Model 1912.

After 1939 mines were designated by a letter code designating their function. For example: KB (Korabel'naya Mina - Shipboard mine).

Submarine mines were designated starting with PL (Podvodnaya Lodka - Submarine) or EhP, followed by extra codes designating special features. For example: PLT-2.

Magnetic mines are designated AMD. For example: AMD-1-500.

Early Russian mines used contact fuzes or shore control. From 1876 to 1908 five galvanic caps with either platinum or electrical fuze were used to trigger the explosives. From 1908 Russian mines used mechanical percussion primed fuzing. The first Soviet magnetic mines appeared in 1939 and came into service use in 1942.

Early Russian mines used simple gunpowder, switching to gun cotton in 1876. From 1908 on TNT was used as the explosive.

The Russians were pioneers of mine warfare, with their first usage during the Crimean War. During that war, some 1,865 mines were laid down in the Baltic Sea. While no British ships were damaged by the mines, their presence is often credited with preventing a British attack on Kronshtadt.

Mines were widely used once again during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, with 1,218 mines laid down. These were used mainly for protection of ports and on the Danube river. At least one Turkish ship was sunk by them.

Mines were intensively used by the Russian Navy during the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. Mines were the most effective weapons that Russian Navy had and had sunk far more Japanese ships than the rest of the Russian Navy combined. During the war, 4,275 mines were laid down and they accounted for two Japanese battleships, two cruisers, five gunboats, six destroyers and a dispatch ship.

Russian mine warfare expertise reached its pinnacle during World War I. Due to the discrepancy of the forces in the Baltic, the Russian Navy had to resort to mine warfare as its primary offensive weapon. In the Baltic Sea, the Russian Navy laid down a total of 38,932 mines in both offensive and defensive mine fields, which cost the Germans 48 warships sunk and 21 warships damaged. In 1916, 11 German destroyers tried to attack a Russian force in the Baltic but were driven off without a shot being fired when seven of their number were sunk by mines.

During World War I, in all theaters, the Russian Navy laid down over 52,000 mine which sank 64 enemy warships. There is no data on the number of enemy transports and auxiliaries sunk. Overall, the Russians laid down 700-800 mines per warship sunk. This may be favorably compared to the total number of mines laid by all other combatants during this war, which was 308,700. These Allied mines resulted in 207 ships sunk, a ratio of 1,500 mines per ship. This makes Russian mine tactics about twice as effective as most other combatants.

In World War II Russian minefields were also very extensive, but brought only limited success. A total of 40,070 mines were laid by the Soviet Navy and according to Soviet estimates over 200 enemy warships, transports and auxiliary ships were sunk by these mines. However, many Soviet warships and transports were also lost on their own minefields.

In June 1941 there were a total of 12,205 mines of Models 1908, 1912 and 1916 in storage. There were also 2,791 of the R - "Rybka", 1915 mines in storage.

Model 1908

Total Mass	1268 lbs. (575 kg)
Explosive Charge	254 lbs. (115 kg) TNT
Trigger/Fuze	5 Hertz horns
Maximum Depth	360 feet (110 m)

Moored contact mine. Extremely successful mine. Main Russian mine at the start of World War I. With slight modifications used by the Russian/Soviet Navy until 1960s.

I lack reliable data for mines produced after 1945.

"S-Boote: German E-boats in action 1939 - 1945" by Jean-Philippe Dallies-Labourdette
"Miny VMF SSSR" (Mines of the Soviet Navy) by Yu. L. Korshunov and B. K. Lyamin
"Miny Rossiyskogo Flota" (Mines of the Russian Fleet) by Yu. L. Korshunov and Yu. P. D'yakonov
"Sovetskie Boevye Korabli 1941-45: IV Vooruzhnie" (Soviet Warships 1941-45: Volume IV Armament) by A.V. Platonov
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Special help from Gary Cartwright, Marc Lemaire and Vladimir Yakubov.

20 November 2007 - Benchmark